ACL Live Shot: My Brightest Diamond

Though not slotting any headliner positions, females dominated the Saturday ACL Fest roster. While pop idols of the moment swelled the limits of stages, Shara Worden and My Brightest Diamond conquered a corner of the field in the Zilker Tent and proved perhaps one of the most underrated performances of the weekend.

My Brightest Diamond remains a non-populist act, with Worden’s uncompromising, operatic vocals guaranteed to either blow away or drive away audiences. Yet the trio’s shows have become increasingly dynamic, with Nathan Lithgow (bass) and Tim Mulvenna (drums) providing anchor to the fluctuating drama of Worden’s voice.

The New Yorker, who went to college in Denton, won over the gathering right off the bat by recruiting local party crashers Minor Mishap Marching Band to wind through the crowd before joining her onstage for “Pressure,” lead track from freshly released fourth LP, This Is My Hand. The low moan of “I Am Not the Bad Guy” followed as Worden took up guitar and worked her voice into a tempest.

“Before the Words” continued the new tracks with a cooing tremble atop Lithgow’s wicked bass line, matched by the flaring urgency of “Be Brave,” staccato pelting of “Lover Killer,” and racing yelp of “High Low Middle.” Given the intensity of her songs, Worden nevertheless projected exuberance and appreciation throughout, unleashing a guitar maelstrom on “Resonance.”

The show remains Worden’s voice, of course, especially on quietly strummed showstopper “I Have Never Loved Someone.” The singer still overpowers at times, but with the balance of a tight rhythm section, My Brightest Diamond has matured into a musical force.

Honorary Minor Mishap Marching bandmember Shara Worden (Photo by Shelley Hiam)